Participatory grantmaking: shifting the power balance (26 August)

Across the breadth and depth of Australian philanthropy, an idea is stirring. It may not be readily identifiable just yet but there are signs that participatory grantmaking is building momentum, sparking interest and triggering conversations around changing the giving dynamic.  

We’re seeing evidence that participatory grantmaking is not only being thought about, but also being practiced – although it might not always be described or presented in this way.  

Now, in our next Thought Leadership Series we bring together two international experts on participatory grantmaking to share their knowledge and experience: Lani Evans, Head of the Vodafone Foundation (NZ), and Michael Jarvis, Executive Director of the Transparency and Accountability Initiative (US).  They will draw on practical case studies and learnings to outline the benefit of this approach for funders and the community. 

Lani undertook a Churchill Fellowship in 2015 that focused on participatory grantmaking. In her report, Lani explained “When done well, participation can help people understand their own leadership and agency, enable decolonization and empower individuals and communities.”   

“For funders who aim to enable social change, participatory practice provides a social justice framework that values lived experience and helps funders bring their own values to life.’’ 

Michael works closely with leading philanthropic organisations to expand the impact and scale of transparency, participation and accountability.  Most recently, he has supported Ford Foundation, Hewlett Foundation, MacArthur Foundation and Open Society Foundations to embed these practices in their giving strategies.  

Philanthropy Australia invites you to join Lani, Michael and a panel of Australian experts for an interactive, online, two-hour session to learn how philanthropy can adopt a participatory approach.  Be part of the discussion that will showcase how to shift the power dynamic in grantmaking and boost equity, inclusion and diversity, whilst also promoting the potential for innovation and collaboration.  

Presenters

Lani Evans - Head of the Vodafone New Zealand Foundation

Lani believes philanthropy can be a powerful lever for positive change and that grant-makers must take a bold, transparent and collaborative approach to funding.

She has been Head of the Vodafone Aotearoa Foundation since 2016, co-founded the Thankyou Charitable Trust, and is a board member of both Thankyou Payroll and the Peter McKenzie Project. She is a past recipient of the NZ Emerging Philanthropist of the Year, completed a Winston Churchill Fellowship focused on participatory philanthropy and was awarded a New Year’s Honour for services to social enterprise.

When she’s not working or volunteering, Lani can be found hiking, biking and running in the hills around Porirua, where she lives in an intergenerational household with her husband Hugh, her son Ara, her mother Ann, various siblings, two nephews, five chickens, one cat and two dogs.

Michael Jarvis - Executive Director, the Transparency and Accountability Initiative

Michael Jarvis joined TAI after almost two decades working on different aspects of the global good governance and development agenda. He has led the development of TAI’s new strategy and approach, and directs engagement across the new priorities for the donor members.

Prior to joining TAI in 2016, Michael was the Global Lead for Extractives Governance within the World Bank Group’s Governance Global Practice. He led the institution’s programming to reinforce knowledge, learning and innovative approaches to strengthening good governance in the critical oil, gas and mining sectors. Overall, Michael worked over ten years with the World Bank in a variety of roles relating to anti corruption, private sector partnerships for development, and multi-stakeholder governance. This included a focus on contracting issues through which he helped shepherd development of a new global initiative on Open Contracting to promote better outcomes from the estimated $9.5 trillion in public-private contracts globally.

Michael previously worked on industry codes of conduct and as a consultant on corporate responsibility and transparency issues, including a focus on the agribusiness, chemical and defense industries. Michael has advanced degrees from the University of Cambridge and Johns Hopkins University. He is a frequent author and blogger and misses his time as a radio DJ.

Session Panellists

Robert Mclean AM - Board Member, Paul Ramsay Foundation

Rob is a private equity investor and company director. He had a 25 year career with McKinsey and Company where he was Managing Partner for Australia and New Zealand, and most recently as a Senior Adviser to the firm. Rob has contributed to the firm’s strategy practice and served on its Directors Committee.

In business Rob served on the boards of CSR, Pacific Dunlop and Elders. He recently completed a second term on the Reserve Bank Payment Systems Board. He is an alternate director of Maths Pathway and a member of the Advisory Board of 5V Capital.

In education, Rob was Dean and Director of the Australian Graduate School of Management at the University of New South Wales.

In the community, Rob serves as Chair of The Nature Conservancy Australia Board and as a director of The Centre for Independent Studies. He was the founding Chairman of Social Ventures Australia and a former President of The Benevolent Society. The McLean Foundation, a PAF established by Rob and his wife Paula, funds initiatives in conservation, literacy and education.

Rob obtained a first class honours degree in Economic Statistics from the University of New England, and an MBA from Columbia Graduate School of Business, where he was a Fulbright Scholar. In 2011 he became a member of the Order of Australia for his contributions to social welfare, conservation and to business.

Jennifer Black - Acting CEO, Fitzroy Legal Service

Jennifer Black is the Acting CEO of Fitzroy Legal Service. She has over 12 years’ experience as a both a lawyer and leader assisting individuals navigate the justice system and advocating for meaningful, systemic change. Jennifer has a strong commitment to the community and a fairer justice system having worked in criminal and civil justice systems, including forensic mental health, mental impairment and fitness to plead, family violence and specialist courts. She has a Master of Human Rights Law (LLM) through the University of Melbourne, with a focus on criminal law and disability (psycho-social) human rights. She is also an Accredited Criminal Law Specialist with the Law Institute of Victoria. She has held positions of community leadership including as a former member of the Executive, on the Yarra Drug and Health Forum.